Explained: this is why socks disappear in the dryer

Finally, an answer to this mystery!

If it hasn’t happened to you, then you’re one of the lucky ones. But we can not imagine that there are people out there who haven’t lost a sock to the dryer. And even though this mystery has been bothering people for a while, there might actually be an answer. Find out where your missing socks go when they disappear in the dryer.
Where is it?
Apparently, the answer isn’t some conspiracy theory about sock thieves or evil dryers. According to Jason Kapica, president of Dryer Vent Wizard, your lost socks might actually be hiding behind your dryer or washing machine. He told The Spruce: “At some point while moving the laundry load, socks slip between the cracks and fall behind or under the washer or dryer.” So, if you check behind your laundry unit, you might find all the socks you’ve lost before. If there aren’t any socks behind the dryer, the next place to look is in the dryer vent. Kapica adds: “Sometimes, a sock can even be sucked into the vent of a dryer.”

Still missing
If you still haven’t found your socks, they might actually be hiding inside your dryer. “Over time, lint screens can loosen, allowing socks and other small clothing items to slip into the actual appliance,” Kapica explains to The Spruce. And that is why he recommends to have your dryer taken apart by an expert every year.

Of course, the best solution is prevention. And a way to prevent socks from going missing, is by not overloading your dryer or washing machine. Another way to make sure your socks don’t disappear, is by washing them in a mesh bag.